GOP delegates in Virginia to choose nominee for governor

Republicans in Virginia waited in lines hundreds of cars deep to choose nominees for governor and other statewide offices at a drive-thru nominating convention Saturday.

The Republican Party is holding what it's calling an “unassembled convention” on Saturday to select its nominees in this year's race for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Republicans haven't won a statewide race in Virginia since 2009.

Ballots are distributed to drivers during the Virginia GOP drive-thru primary to select candidates for the 2021 general election, Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Annandale, Va. Tens of thousands of Virginians are casting ballots to choose nominees for governor and other statewide offices. (Bill O'LearyThe Washington Post via AP)

Because pandemic restrictions ban mass gatherings, delegates are casting ballots at nearly 40 polling sites across the state.

More than 53,000 Virginians successfully pre-registered as delegates. GOP officials rejected applications from roughly 700 would-be delegates. Virginia is the only state with an open-seat gubernatorial race this year.

Four candidates — Amanda Chase, Kirk Cox, Pete Snyder and Glenn Youngkin — all have a shot at winning the nomination in a race where no clear favorite has been established. Three other candidates — Sergio de la Pena, Peter Doran and Octavia Jackson — were considered long shots.

Cars form long lines as the Virginia GOP holds a drive-thru primary to select candidates for the 2021 general election, Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Annandale, Va. Tens of thousands of Virginians are casting ballots to choose nominees for governor and other statewide offices. (Bill O'LearyThe Washington Post via AP)

Chase, who voted Saturday morning amid long lines at the Fulghum Center in Midlothian, expressed concern about the instructions on the ranked-choice ballot. She has suggested to her voters that they fill in her name across the ballot in all seven slots, but the ballot instructions warn that doing so could result in a spoiled ballot.

Chase said she’s received assurances from party leaders that such ballots will be counted, but she is concerned that not all polling places are aware of that.

She said her supporters “just don't trust anything about this process. They’re very skeptical, very leery,” she said.

Puneet Ahluwalia, candidate for Lt. Governor, works the line of cars during the Virginia GOP drive-thru primary to select candidates for the 2021 general election, Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Annandale, Va. (Bill O'LearyThe Washington Post via AP)

Chase and other candidates prevailed on the party to change its procedures for counting ballots. The party agreed and is now using a system that provides greater transparency to the campaigns but will take longer to complete.

In Fairfax County, cars backed up onto Little River Turnpike and wound through nearly a mile of side streets on the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College Saturday morning, waiting to cast ballots as they ran through a slow-motion gauntlet of pamphleteers and volunteers touting various candidates and causes.

Aaron Harrison of McLean saved himself some time by getting out of his car and walking his ballot down to a waiting volunteer, who was accepting ballots in a large storage bin.

Puneet Ahluwalia, candidate for Lt. Governor, works the line of cars during the Virginia GOP drive-thru primary to select candidates for the 2021 general election, Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Annandale, Va. (Bill O'LearyThe Washington Post via AP)

Harrison was no fan of the ranked-choice system implemented by Republicans, calling it “nonsense” that left voters confused and losing candidates with an excuse to claim chicanery. Still, he filled out his ballot all the way from first choice to last, with Snyder first and de la Pena second.

Harrison said he's been involved in Republican politics a long time and remembers Snyder from his failed 2013 run for lieutenant governor. He said he has no doubts about Snyder's conservative credentials and appreciated his emphasis on reopening schools and businesses shuttered during the pandemic.

“The lockdown has become a religion for the left,” he said.

Cars snake through the parking lot of NOVA Community College as the Virginia GOP holds a drive-thru primary to select candidates for the 2021 general election, Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Annandale, Va. (Bill O'LearyThe Washington Post via AP)

At a nearby polling district in Springfield for the 8th Congressional District, lines were significantly shorter. Voters were greeted by Doran and his Vizsla dog, Psyche, who sat comfortably in a large backpack.

Doran said he was impressed by the turnout and “excited to see the strength we have in the Republican Party.” He said dog lovers were especially excited to see Psyche campaigning with him and joked “he's got to be worth at least 5 points on the margins.”

Polling closes at 4 p.m. Saturday, but the party won't even begin counting ballots until Sunday.

Cars snake through the parking lot of NOVA Community College as the Virginia GOP holds a drive-thru primary to select candidates for the 2021 general election, Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Annandale, Va. (Bill O'LearyThe Washington Post via AP)

It may take several days to finish the count, which is complicated by the ranked-choice voting and proportional representation that is awarded to each city and county.

Democrats will choose their gubernatorial nominee in a primary next month. Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe is the frontrunner in a field of five Democrats.

Incumbent Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam is barred from seeking reelection under Virginia's term limit rules.

Gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin works the line of cars as the Virginia GOP holds a drive-thru primary to select candidates for the 2021 general election, Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Annandale, Va. (Bill O'LearyThe Washington Post via AP)

Gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin works the line of cars as the Virginia GOP holds a drive-thru primary to select candidates for the 2021 general election, Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Annandale, Va. (Bill O'LearyThe Washington Post via AP)

Tim Hugo, candidate for Lt. Governor, greets delegates as the Virginia GOP holds a drive-thru primary to select candidates for the 2021 general election, Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Annandale, Va. (Bill O'LearyThe Washington Post via AP)

Convention workers collect ballots during a drive through GOP Convention vote in Chesterfield, Va., Saturday, May 8, 2021. (AP PhotoSteve Helber)

Republican gubernatorial candidate State Sen. Amanda Chase, assembles a yard sign during a drive through GOP Convention vote in Chesterfield, Va., Saturday, May 8, 2021. (AP PhotoSteve Helber)

Republican gubernatorial candidate State Sen. Amanda Chase, places a yard sign during a drive through GOP Convention vote in Chesterfield, Va., Saturday, May 8, 2021. (AP PhotoSteve Helber)

Republican gubernatorial candidate State Sen. Amanda Chase, fills out her ballot during a drive through GOP Convention vote in Chesterfield, Va., Saturday, May 8, 2021. (AP PhotoSteve Helber)